Effect of Skin-to-Skin Contact on Father-Infant Bonding: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TEN TENE TEMASIN BABA-BEBEK BAĞLANMASINA ETKİSİ: RANDOMİZE KONTROLLÜ ÇALIŞMA

This randomized, parallel-group clinical trial evaluates whether father-infant skin-to-skin contact improves bonding among healthy term newborns and their fathers in Türkiye. Fathers are randomly assigned to one of three arms that differ in the timing and frequency of skin-to-skin contact (early one-time contact, frequent contact, or standard care). Bonding is assessed with a validated paternal-infant bonding scale at prespecified postpartum time points. The study enrolls fathers of newborns delivered in university and state hospital obstetrics units.

Rationale: Early skin-to-skin contact may facilitate father-infant bonding; experimental evidence in Türkiye is limited.

Design: Interventional, randomized, parallel assignment with three arms:

• Early skin-to-skin contact: a single early skin-to-skin session.
• Frequent skin-to-skin contact: repeated skin-to-skin sessions (e.g., ≥15 minutes per session on most days).
• Standard care: routine postnatal care without a structured skin-to-skin schedule.Participants: Fathers ≥18 years with healthy term singleton newborns.

Assessments: Paternal-Infant bonding is measured using a validated bonding scale at baseline and at a prespecified postpartum time point (e.g., 3 months). Additional baseline questionnaires are collected.

Analysis plan (summary): Group comparisons and exploratory associations will be evaluated per protocol using appropriate statistical tests; full statistical details are provided in the Results section upon completion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Fathers ≥18 years old
• First-time fathers
• At least primary school graduates
• Able to provide ≥15 minutes of skin-to-skin contact within 4 hours of birth
• No communication problems
• Co-resident with their spouses
• Infant: single, healthy newborn at 38-42 weeks' gestation and present with the mother
• (If applicable) Infant birth weight between 2500-4000 g

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fathers who could not be reached during data collection or follow-up
• Separation from the infant for more than one week during follow-up (e.g., hospitalization of the father or infant, long-term work travel)
• Infants requiring special care or with congenital anomalies/serious illness